Speyside Scotch whisky distillery The GlenAllachie has launched its inaugural peated single malt Scotch whisky brand, Meikle Tòir, in Australia.

Pronounced ‘mee-kuhl tor’ – which means ‘big pursuit’ – the collection debuts four small-batch whiskies: The Original, The Sherry One, The Chinquapin and The Turbo, all using premium mainland peat producing an oaky, sweet smoke style.

It is the first time the GlenAllachie Distillery, under current custodianship of celebrated Master Distiller, Billy Walker, has produced a peated single malt whisky, a rare whisky style for the Speyside region. It is also Walker’s first core release since he took ownership of the distillery in 2017.

Using peat from mainland St Fergus, the peated production at GlenAllachie runs for around six weeks each year to create premium, small-batch releases. The Meikle Tòir expressions are also subjected to a lengthy fermentation time of 160 hours, nearly triple the industry average, adding a fruity, ester-rich character to the whisky. The spirit is also bottled without added colouring and non-chill filtered.

Walker said: “This is an incredibly exciting milestone for all of us at The GlenAllachie. Five years in the making, Meikle Tòir represents our endeavours to perfect a peated whisky and make history at our home in Speyside. Our innovation, wood policy and hands-on approach means only the best whisky reaches the bottle.”

The Original is the classic single malt that champions the peated pursuit. Aged for five years in a combination of first-fill Bourbon barrels, American virgin oak casks and Rye barrels, the result is rich and complex in character with notes of baking spices, burnt honey, sweet pea and rich chocolate.

The Sherry One is matured for five years in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels, followed by quality Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry puncheons, resulting in distinctive flavours of dark chocolate, mocha and puffs of peat smoke.

The Chinquapin One is aged in superior Chinquapin virgin oak barrels sourced from the Northern Ozark region of Missouri, USA, and matured for five years. The single malt delivers notes of sweet spice and toasted nuts accompanied by peat smoke.

The Turbo is a limited-edition release with an amplified smoky identity. Deploying mainland peat and a lengthy fermentation period, the whisky boasts a full-bodied character. The 2023 release is a combination of three American virgin oak casks and five Oloroso hogsheads, and the result is a multi-faceted whisky with a powerful punch of peat and notes of Manuka honey, worn leather and chocolate.

Meikle Tòir will be available exclusively via Vanguard Luxury Brands from March 2024. The Original (50% ABV) RRP $145; The Sherry One (48% ABV) RRP $135; The Chinquapin (48% ABV) RRP $135; and The Turbo (50% ABV) RRP $145.